ABC15 Arizona in Phoenix Latest Headlines | May 12, morning

Added: 2026-05-13

[00:00:00]These latest headlines from ABC 15 are sponsored by Lerner and Rowe Injury Attorneys. One call, that's all. I'm Jordan Banquis with your top stories from the ABC 15 Arizona newsroom. It is still a weather action day with extreme heat that has been sticking around and we want to remind you there are places to get cool. So the Salvation Army, they have 10 heat relief stations open today.

[00:00:21]The locations open at 11 and they're from all across the valley. We're told the We're told that the Salvation Army helped nearly 65,000 people just in 2025. And in your Gilbert report, Adam Schumes taking us inside a new respite site over at the Williams Field stake at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. So once it opens in two weeks, services will be provided Monday through Friday with meals and a place to rest.

[00:00:46]Also now to an ABC 15 follow-up on an inmate that we've reported on for years.

[00:00:51]Prosecutors in Pinal County are seeking the death penalty against an Arizona inmate. That's Ricky Wassenaar. He's accused of murdering three fellow prisoners just last year. County Attorney says Wassenaar has an extensive history of violence and he now faces three counts of first-degree murder and aggravated assault for the murders.

[00:01:12]Could a national federal gas tax holiday soon be on the horizon? President Trump wants it as do a number of Democrats and Republicans on Capitol Hill, but whether Congress can actually pass it is another question. From state capitals to our nation's capital, a debate over gas taxes as millions of Americans voice frustration at the price of gasoline.

[00:01:35]They wonder why people live paycheck to paycheck and struggle nowadays. Again, I remember the last time it was this this high. In Indiana, recent suspension of taxes related to gas has resulted in savings ranging from 40 cents to close to a dollar in some areas while other states have enacted or are eyeing changes too. In Washington, the focus is on the national gas tax which stands at 18.4 cents a gallon. It's a small percentage, but it's you know, it's still money. President Trump is backing the proposal to suspend it, but experts say he can't do it on his own. He needs Congress. While the proposal has bipartisan support, it also has leaders in both parties questioning how impactful it will really be. Families need real relief at the pump.

[00:02:20]And Senate Democrats will support real action to lower costs.

[00:02:25]But let's not pretend 18 cents of gas tax relief per gallon makes up for the damage Trump created with this war.

[00:02:33]18 cents isn't a dollar 50, which is how much the price of gas has gone up. One of the biggest hurdles for President Trump may be Republican Senate Leader John Thune. Thune has committed to exploring the proposal, but he previously opposed the idea when former President Joe Biden was in office.

[00:02:52]Andrew Lautz with the Bipartisan Policy Center told the Scripps News Group recently why it's controversial, citing research that shows savings don't always get passed along to you, the driver.

[00:03:04]Federal gas tax suspension or state gas tax suspensions don't get fully passed through to drivers at the pump, and so some of that benefit is captured by say gas stations or oil refineries rather than the actual driver. The criticism of suspending the gas tax also involves the National Highway Trust Fund. If you suspend the gas tax, let's say for a month, that would take billions of dollars away from planned infrastructure projects like fixing America's roads.

[00:03:32]Joe St. George, Scripps News Group, Washington.

[00:03:36]Stand up for someone who can't stand up for themselves.

[00:03:40]Bring people together who weren't talking before.

[00:03:45]That's leadership.

[00:03:47]That's what moves the needle.

[00:03:50]Actor Harrison Ford, also Han Solo, giving some good advice here to the class of 2026. Thousands of people gathered at Mountain America Stadium last night for the ASU undergraduate commencement, the largest class ever.

[00:04:02]The convocations continue this week and congrats to the class of 2026.

[00:04:09]Tracking your most accurate forecast on this ABC 15 weather action day. I'm meteorologist Jorge Torres. We once again have an extreme heat warning through at least this evening for much of the Phoenix metro area with highs today ranging from 105 to even 109 in a few isolated spots. Now, starting off with temperatures this morning in the mid-80s at 8:00, 100 already in midday, and forecasting a high of 106. That is well above average by more than 10 degrees. We'll see similar temperatures across the valley today, anywhere from 102 in Cave Creek to 105 in Deer Valley, 106 in Peoria, and 108 in Goodyear and Laveen, too. Northern parts of the state will keep eyes in areas like Flagstaff in the lower 80s this afternoon, mid-90s in Winslow and Kingman, and 100s from Tucson and Safford all the way to the valley and western parts of the state as well. 7-day forecast showing temperatures going from 106 today in the valley to the upper 90s on Thursday. In the high country, we go from the 80s this afternoon in Flagstaff to the 70s the rest of the week and weekend as well with overnight lows in the 30s, but the forecast remains dry for the next 7 days. For the latest headlines, weather, and traffic, you can always hit abc15.com and download that free ABC15 mobile app.